Polished Decorative Pebble Danger?

[Aquarist123]

Hello everyone. Is there a way to test if the polished pebbles from the craft store are contaminating my tank? I stocked the 55g with a Sev, JD, Red parrot, and a FM about a week ago, and since then, the parrot has gotten a semi-cloudy eye, and the fish are breathing somewhat heavy (at least when I'm observing.)

The params are good, 0/0/<25, I've done a few water changes thus far. I'm running it at about 83 degrees with a powerhead and a bubble wand because of the heavy breathing. There is a good amount of rock structures in the tank, which is going to make for bad cleaning and circulation. I'm thinking of just putting a layer of sand and a ceramic pot for each fish. Should I go ahead and take out all this stuff and make it simple, or just give it some time? Thanks.

 

[ProblEmZ]

Peeps may need more information; Did you cycle the tank? What's the filtration? How big and frequent were your water changes? Sev, Jd, Red (Blood) Parrot, and Firemouth the only inhabitants?

Please explain 0/0/<25 i'm guessing 0-nitrates, 0-nitrites, and less than 25 ammonia?

If anything i'd wait it out abit. But i'll the let the more advanced keepers chime in.

 

[Aquarist123]

Ok. Yes it's cycled. Filteration is a Topfin 60 and the Powerhead filter rated to 30 gallons. The 3 Water changes were probably 40%, 2-3 days apart. Yes those 4 are the only fish in the tank, about 3 inches each. The 0/0/<25 means 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, <25 nitrate. If you need any more info just ask. Thanks for the help.

 

[Modest_Man]

pH before and after the change?

 

[Aquarist123]

It was around 7.4 when I checked it last. I don't buff it purposely, so I wasn't concerned with it. I'll take note next time.

 

[ProblEmZ]

If i remember correctly most of those polished stones packages will say if they are aquarium safe, however i have seen that don't say a thing.

 

[cookiemonster]

Peeps may need more information; Did you cycle the tank? What's the filtration? How big and frequent were your water changes? Sev, Jd, Red (Blood) Parrot, and Firemouth the only inhabitants?

Please explain 0/0/<25 i'm guessing 0-nitrates, 0-nitrites, and less than 25 ammonia?

If anything i'd wait it out abit. But i'll the let the more advanced keepers chime in.

Lol! With <25 ppm ammonia there wouldn't be any fish left! Isn't that above the leathal level for, well, just about any fish? Correct me if I'm wrong, but that'd be pretty extreme.

 

[Mystix212]

Yeah, most fish will croak at 3ppm if not less.

Your fish's cloudy eye might just be a thing from scrathing, rubbing it on something. When I rubbed my 6" baal sharks eye, it was puffy and cloudy for roughly 3-4 days.

If in doubt, add salt, melafix and keep performing 40-50% water changes

Another thing is that you might not be getting enough dissolved oxygen into your tank. O2 tablets and or a HOB filter would provide the extra DO.

 

[Wolf3101]

If the rocks truly are POLISHED then your fine but a lot of them are only partly polished and then coated. Those are the ones that usually say "not for aquarium use" but I've seen coated stone without a warning.

 

[ProblEmZ]

Lol! With <25 ppm ammonia there wouldn't be any fish left! Isn't that above the leathal level for, well, just about any fish? Correct me if I'm wrong, but that'd be pretty extreme.

/doh